NEW: Housing Authority Director Says He May Resign Tonight

NEW: Housing Authority Director Says He May Resign Tonight

Depsite denying all claims made against him, the Providence Housing Authority director accused of sexual harassment and mismanagement of federal funds says he is considering resigning from his post during a special board meeting this evening.

Stephen O’Rourke, who has been the agency’s executive director since 1987, said a lack of support from several board members and Mayor Angel Taveras has led him to consider stepping down.

“That’s one of the options,” O’Rourke said this afternoon. “There is only so much you can take. When you don’t have the support of the Mayor and [some members] of the board, it gets tough.”

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Taveras has not met with O’Rourke and said Monday that he has no plans to do so. He said he would talk with board chairman Paul Waldman if he needed to communicate with anyone at the agency. He has also returned $500 in campaign contributions made by O’Rourke.

In a wide-ranging interview set to run on GoLocalProv tomorrow morning, O’Rourke completely denied the accusations levied against him by two employees. He said he expects the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who is currently investigating the claims, to clear him of any wrongdoing.

During a meeting last week, board members voted 5-4 against placing O’Rourke on paid leave while an internal investigation into the claims takes place.